Out with the old, in with new

Adios, adios, adios...

It has been a great privilege, a high honor, and one of my most treasured personal pleasures to have served with you and our colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than twenty-one years. You have been a stellar example for our nation of personal courage and steadfast conviction, and I thank you for your leadership of this great institution as well as for your personal friendship.

As you are aware, I have recently made the decision to pursue new opportunities to engage in the important cultural and political battles of our day from an arena outside of the U.S. House of Representatives. As a result, I am informing you of my intention to formally resign as the representative of the 22nd Congressional District of Texas to be effective at the close of business on June 9, 2006.

May God continue to bless you, the President, this great institution and its Members, and our nation. - Hot Tub Tom

Hello, hello, hello...

"Tom DeLay has now said he will resign and attempt to remove his name from the ballot on June 9. DeLay should have resigned a month ago. Instead, he chose to leave this district without any voice in the House while the country is at war, debating immigration reform and heading into hurricane season," said Lampson campaign manager Mike Malaise. "And in true DeLay fashion, the closed meetings and backroom dealings over the past weekend have already begun to mar this entire process. Southeast Texans are tired of the lack of integrity with which this entire process has taken place since Tom DeLay set it in motion."